A Ugandan Olympic runner, Rebecca Cheptegie, has been hospitalized in Kenya following a horrifying attack by her partner.
Cheptegie, who competed in the Paris Olympic Games in July, sustained severe burns covering three-quarters of her body after her partner, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, poured petrol on her and set her ablaze.
This brutal incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at Cheptegie’s residence in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya, while she was attending church.
Marangach, who allegedly broke into Cheptegie’s home during her absence, was also injured in the ensuing fire.
The 33-year-old athlete is now in critical condition at a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Her parents, who are traveling from Uganda to be with her, said that she had purchased the property in Kenya to utilize its training facilities.
This attack highlights a troubling pattern, as Cheptegie is not the first high-profile athlete in Kenya to fall victim to domestic violence. In 2021, Agnes Tirop, a celebrated Kenyan runner known for her record-breaking achievements, was found stabbed to death at her home.
Her estranged husband, Emmanuel Ibrahim Rotich, is currently facing trial for her murder.
In response to Tirop’s tragic death, her family and fellow athletes established the Tirop’s Angels foundation, dedicated to addressing gender-based violence.
The foundation recently inaugurated a new center in Iten, Kenya, aimed at supporting survivors and promoting awareness.
